As it was past one o'clock, they were by no means sorry to hear this, and John drew up the cart about fifty yards from the place, where they outspanned the horses, and, having watched them roll and drink, they went up to the house.
The two Boers, who had also off-saddled, were already sitting on the verandah, and when Jess looked inquiringly towards them one of them pointed with his pipe towards the little room.

Taking the hint, they entered, and found a Hottentot woman just setting some food upon the table.
"Here is dinner; let us eat it," said John; "goodness knows when we will get any more;" and accordingly he sat down.
As he did so the two Boers came in, and one of them made some sneering remark that caused the other to look at them and laugh insultingly.
John flushed, but took no notice.

Indeed he thought it safest not, for, to tell the truth, he did not much like the appearance of these two worthies.

One of them was a big, smooth, pasty-faced man, with a peculiarly villainous expression of countenance and a prominent tooth that projected in ghastly isolation over his lower lip.

The other was a small man, with a sardonic smile, a profusion of black beard and whiskers on his face, and long hair hanging on to his shoulders.